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6th March 2024

Summer Daydreaming: Literary escapes from the winter blues

Why not escape winter with these sun-soaked reads? We offer a few recommendations that unveil the warmth of summer reading regardless of the season.

Books



4th March 2024

Recommending a book for each Taylor Swift era

Taylor Swift is now more popular than ever and we can’t get enough, so we recommend a book for each of her albums.
1st March 2024

International Women’s Day book guide: Celebrating feminists and feminism

Women’s writing should be spotlighted and celebrated all year round, but in the lead up to International Women’s Day, there’s no time like the present so we recommend some of our favourite books

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The frazzled Millennial women of literature
12th February 2024

The frazzled Millennial women of literature

The Bridget Jones aesthetic has been preoccupying TikTok recently so we reveal literature’s favourite frazzled millennial women.
Books are a girl’s best friend – Valentine’s edition
8th February 2024

Books are a girl’s best friend – Valentine’s edition

Treat yourself this romantic season with a good read – books are much lower maintenance than men
In Memoriam review: Finding solace amongst sorrow
4th February 2024

In Memoriam review: Finding solace amongst sorrow

Alice Winn’s debut In Memoriam has become Waterstones’ poster child for both historical fiction and LGBTQ+ romance. It has already been named an ‘instant classic’, but what separates this Great War story from so many others?
The Booker Prize: Empowering or performative?
29th January 2024

The Booker Prize: Empowering or performative?

The Booker Prize’s shortlist has been announced, and as always, each entry is laden with polemical and current societal commentaries. But why does this prize champion liberation? Perhaps due to its colonial past and problematic present.
BookTok’s obsession: Why fantasy novels keep captivating readers
7th December 2023

BookTok’s obsession: Why fantasy novels keep captivating readers

Discover the cultural phenomenon of ‘BookTok’ where a surge of young readers have enthusiastically immersed themselves in the enthralling realms of fantasy novels, heralding a new era in reading habits and literary exploration.
The ultimate Gift Guide: Books edition
5th December 2023

The ultimate Gift Guide: Books edition

Books are the ideal present for anyone, but faced with the overwhelming amount of choice, we offer a few suggestions from the most popular genres.
The Irish literature renaissance: The need for women’s writing
5th December 2023

The Irish literature renaissance: The need for women’s writing

With the emergence of Sally Rooney, the popularity of Irish literature has only increased. We explore why there is now an urgent necessity for contemporary Irish women’s voices in literature.
The best short books you can read in one sitting
3rd December 2023

The best short books you can read in one sitting

If you’re looking to get back into reading during the busyness of term time, here are some recommendations for brilliant short books you could finish in one sitting
Paddington Bear: Celebrating 65 years of Britain’s favourite bear
1st December 2023

Paddington Bear: Celebrating 65 years of Britain’s favourite bear

65 years since ‘A Bear Called Paddington’ first hit the shelves, Paddington Bear has become a national treasure. But why does he mean so much to Brits?
Dystopian hope and the art of feminist retelling: What does Julia hide?
29th November 2023

Dystopian hope and the art of feminist retelling: What does Julia hide?

How about “laugh, love, live in a totalitarian state”? Discussing Julia, the promising new feminist retelling of 1984 by Sandra Newman
Demystifying today’s politics: Must-read books
27th November 2023

Demystifying today’s politics: Must-read books

What you should be reading to keep informed on today’s political sphere
Doon Mackichan talks acting, feminism and life lessons at Manchester Literature Festival
26th November 2023

Doon Mackichan talks acting, feminism and life lessons at Manchester Literature Festival

From empowerment to activism: here’s everything we should be learning from Doon Mackichan’s appearance at Manchester Literature Festival
Acclaimed author Liu Zhenyun visits Manchester to showcase his latest work
18th November 2023

Acclaimed author Liu Zhenyun visits Manchester to showcase his latest work

Chinese author and screenwriter, Liu Zhenyun, discusses his latest work at the Manchester China Institute
What in 451°F: How and why do book bans still exist?
16th November 2023

What in 451°F: How and why do book bans still exist?

Book burning is finally outdated, but book banning is still a stable trend. Why is this still the case and what we can do about it?
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, the ‘Giant of African Literature,’ discusses normalised abnormalities in Manchester
9th November 2023

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, the ‘Giant of African Literature,’ discusses normalised abnormalities in Manchester

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o discusses his life works, decolonisation through literature and normalised abnormalities in his talk at the university of Manchester